Health Leaders

A NEW GENERATION OF HEALTHLEADERS

Two of Oregon’s leading universities have joined forces to educate the next generation of public health leaders, with a vision of confronting and combating the underlying causes of health disparity. The goal of the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health is to be the premier destination for students of diverse backgrounds looking to enter and energize the increasingly critical field of health sciences.

A PASSION FOR HEALTH EQUALITY

Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland Community College and the city of Portland have teamed up to build a $100 million hub for public health, education and city services at PSU’s downtown campus by 2020.

Our school will be a key incubator of teaching, research and action in health policies and practices. Our graduates will emerge with the skills and experience to be tomorrow’s health workers, leaders and thinkers, whether that’s developing policy on the best ways to tackle air and water pollution in a community or working directly with low-income mothers and infants to establish lifelong healthy patterns.

BRIDGING THE HEALTH GAP

David Bangsberg has seen first-hand the way structural violence and economic barriers create a chasm between the health haves and have-nots. He has devoted his career to bridging that gap. His passion for serving the underserved has taken him to the front lines in the battle against HIV and addiction, from the streets of East Baltimore to North Harlem, from San Francisco to Uganda. A native of Portland, he is returning to his roots as the founding dean of the new school.

DEAN’S SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Dean Bangsberg established the fund to ensure a diverse student body that represents communities with the greatest health disparities. The main barrier to recruiting these students is tuition and post-graduation costs.

“This is where we can channel the energy and creativity of Oregon youth to improve global health. I especially look forward to the ideas not yet imagined.”

For them, the field of health care offers a broad range of meaningful and rewarding career opportunities in one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy.

WILLOW WALLACE

College “didn’t seem like an option” for Willow (pictured top), who left home in her teens to escape poverty and a difficult home life. But after enrolling in Portland State’s biology program and studying infectious diseases, she’s poised to be among the first class of graduates from the new School of Public Health.